Hood air scoop

Abstract

An apparatus and a system is provided that may be utilized to provide stability to air flow through a hood scoop. The present invention may also be utilized to straighten and smooth out air flow through a hood scoop and accompanying air filter media. The present invention utilizes an air filtration media which may be inserted into at least a portion of a vehicle hood scoop and may filter out particulate and may also slow air flow down temporarily in order to straighten and/or smooth turbulent air flow through the air filtration media. Additionally, the present invention may provide an apparatus that may facilitate more uniform pressure inside the hood scoop of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for filtering and reducing turbulence of intake air flow to an engine of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 an air scoop configured to be incorporated onto an exterior surface of the vehicle, the air scoop comprising a front opening and an internal cavity in fluid communication with an air intake system of the engine, and further wherein the front opening is utilized to accommodate intake of air into the engine of the vehicle, the internal cavity being partially enclosed by an exterior wall of the air scoop wherein a proximal lip is formed around the outside edge of the front opening; 
 an air filter medium disposed within the internal cavity of the air scoop, such that the intake air flow to the engine is drawn through the air filter medium, the air filter medium being configured to remove particulate matter from the intake air flow; 
 the air scoop having a convex top portion that tapers from the front opening towards a back portion; and 
 an air flow director disposed in front of the air filter medium configured to cooperate and smooth air flow prior to the air filter medium to reduce turbulence of the intake air flow, thereby contributing to a laminar air flow through the internal cavity and into the air intake system of the engine. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air scoop is configured to be positioned on top of a hood of the vehicle, wherein the hood is configured with an opening to allow air flow from the internal cavity to be directed into the air intake system of the engine. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the air scoop further comprises a hood scoop tray configured to seal a bottom portion of the air scoop to the air intake system of the engine. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the air intake system of the engine comprises a carburetor. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air flow director and the air filter medium cooperate to reduce pressure differentials forming within the internal cavity. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the air flow director comprises a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings of the air filter medium, whereby air flow is directed uniformly through the air filter medium. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the air flow director comprises an aluminum honeycomb portion of the air filter medium. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the air flow director comprises a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings of the air filter medium configured to reduce the speed of the air flow through the air filter medium, thereby reducing turbulence of the intake air flow and contributing to a laminar air flow through the internal cavity and into the air intake system. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the air filter medium is incorporated into the front opening, such that the air filter medium is vertically disposed in a plane with a front edge of the air scoop and is retained by way of the proximal lip of the air scoop. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the air filter medium is positioned within the internal cavity, distal of the front edge of the air scoop. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for filtering and reducing turbulence of intake air flow to an engine of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 an air scoop comprising an oval shaped conduit having an interior cavity extending from a proximal opening of the air scoop distally to the engine and further wherein the conduit and interior cavity utilized to accommodate intake of air into the engine of the vehicle, the air scoop further comprising a proximal lip formed around an outside edge and the air scoop tapering from the proximal opening towards a back portion; 
 an air filter medium disposed within the interior cavity; and 
 an air flow director disposed within the proximal opening of the air scoop, such that air flowing through the proximal opening is drawn through the air flow director where the air flow is directed in a uniform manner prior to passing through the air filter medium into the air intake system. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the oval shaped conduit comprises a cross-sectional size which decreases in passing from the proximal opening to a distal portion of the air scoop. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air filter medium is configured to remove particulate matter from the air flow before entering the air intake system of the engine. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air flow director and the air filter medium cooperate to reduce turbulence of the intake air flow, thereby contributing to a laminar air flow through the interior cavity and into the air intake system of the engine. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air flow director comprises a structural portion configured to reduce turbulence of air flow incident on the air filter medium. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the structural portion comprises a plurality of honeycomb shaped openings of the air filter medium configured to uniformly direct air flow through the interior cavity. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the air scoop is configured to be coupled to an opening in a hood of the vehicle so as to direct air flow from the interior cavity into the air intake system of the engine. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the air scoop further comprises a hood scoop tray configured to seal a bottom portion of the air scoop to an air intake of a carburetor.